Looking at more than one viewpoint..

[Stan]

I posted something a few months/years ago that showed some research that only 2% of people committed to a political party will read a book written by someone on the opposing viewpoint.

I must be part of that 2% as I think it is critical to read about other viewpoints.

When becoming an SDA I went to libraries and the Canadian Bible Society bookstore to read opposing viewpoints on Adventism. I had to have reasonable answers to question others had about the 'cult' of adventism.

I also read frontpages of newspapers around the world that give different views than my local and national newspapers.

"Truth, whatever that is, math, science, religion expects and even demands investigation"

Are you part of the 2% or 98%? and why?

[M. T. Cross]

I think I am somewhere in the middle of that.

I don't have really strong political ties to a certain party or "side", so I read about all of them, all different views and make my decisions based on the current leadership and platforms.

When it comes to religion and philosophy I will read any point of view, just not all the time. There are times when I find it exhausting and need to stick in my comfort zone.

[CoAspen]

Quote:

......need to stick in my comfort zone.

Since I know you don't stick to your 'comfort zone' all the time, I would add that the above quote is the source of soooo many issues in the world today, especially when it comes to dealing with others.

For many, dare I say, it has to do with fear. A fear that means 'my view point' may not be all its cracked up to be....by me!!

[M. T. Cross]

Quote:

......need to stick in my comfort zone.

Since I know you don't stick to your 'comfort zone' all the time, I would add that the above quote is the source of soooo many issues in the world today, especially when it comes to dealing with others.

For many, dare I say, it has to do with fear. A fear that means 'my view point' may not be all its cracked up to be....by me!!

Oh it has to do with fear at times for me as well. In the last 10 years my outlook and world view has changed so drastically its mind blowing. So there are times when I really just don't want it shaken up any more for a period of time so I will avoid anything that might shake it up.

Other times I avoid looking at other view points because of the amount of fear, ignorance, bigotry and hatred that fuel them from some people. As you filter through researching and reading up on alternate views to your own, you might find one in a hundred people put the view point out there without any bias towards people that disagree with them. If that makes any sense, cause I may be rambling LOL

[CoAspen]

[JoeMo]

Quote:

Oh it has to do with fear at times for me as well.

Me too. I can't say whether it's fear of doubting my own position or fear of being so inarticulate that I come across looking like an idiot. Sometimes I don't want to share my views because in doing so, I will start a debate that devolves into the same old stuff that so many discussions (especially theological, philosophical, or political) devolve into. You know what I mean - we used to see it here on CA a lot (but not as much as we used to).

Like MT, my worldview has changed so drastically in the past few years it makes my head spin. I sometimes fear that my "pendulum" has swung too far to one side - that my mind is so open to others' viewpoint that I have compromised my own principles. Have I become too liberal?

At other times, I feel like I am still too constrained by the ideas that religion has put into my head. Am I still so constrained by a fear that has been drilled into me by religion for most of my life that I am not yet open to the fullness of God's personal revelation for my life?